So last week, my buddy Chris called me up, totally stressed out. His employer switched their health plan AGAIN, and his kid’s specialist is suddenly “out-of-network.” Now he’s looking at driving 45 minutes to see some new doctor they’ve never met. All this after his premiums just shot up another 12%.
“There’s gotta be a better way,” he tells me. I just smiled and said, “Funny you should mention that…”
I’ve spent the past decade dealing with traditional MBP insurance plans. You know the drill—you pay a fortune every month, then still get slapped with bills when you actually need care. It’s like paying for a meal plan where you still have to pay extra to actually eat anything. It makes zero sense.
The Options Nobody Talks About
A random conversation at my kid’s soccer game changed everything. Another dad mentioned he’d ditched traditional insurance completely. I thought he was crazy or super wealthy. It turns out he was neither—just better informed than me.
He told me about healthcare-sharing programs—not insurance (an important legal distinction), but communities where members contribute monthly and share each other’s healthcare costs. His family saved over $600 a month compared to their old plan.
I was skeptical as hell. It sounded too good to be true. But I was desperate enough to look into it.
Wait, I Can Just… Choose My Doctor?
The first thing that blew my mind? No networks. None. Zero. Zilch.
With these alternative programs, you can see ANY doctor. The specialist your friend recommended? Sure. The hospital with the best reputation in your state? Absolutely. The doctor you’ve been seeing for years who dropped your insurance? Yep, you can keep them.
And here’s the kicker – when you tell a doctor’s office you’re a self-pay patient with a healthcare sharing plan, they often give you their cash price. And those prices are WAY lower than what they bill insurance.
Example: My wife needed a procedure last year. The hospital billing person told us it would be $4,700 through insurance (which meant primarily out of our pocket due to our ridiculous deductible). When we asked for the cash price? $1,900. FOR THE EXACT SAME PROCEDURE.
Let that sink in.
The Transparency Game-Changer
Here’s something you’ve probably never experienced with traditional insurance: knowing exactly where your money goes.
Every quarter, our sharing community sends a report showing how much members contributed and how much was distributed for medical bills. A small percentage goes to administrative costs (someone’s got to keep the lights on), but the vast majority goes directly to covering actual healthcare.
There will be no multi-million dollar CEO bonuses, no skyscraper office buildings, and no Super Bowl commercials. There will be just people helping people.
Building Your Own Healthcare System
The coolest part about ditching traditional insurance is that you build a healthcare approach that makes sense for YOUR family.
My setup now:
- Healthcare sharing for big stuff and emergencies ($537/month)
- Direct Primary Care for routine care ($85/month)
- Telemedicine service for middle-of-the-night kid fevers and quick questions ($18/month)
- Dental discount plan instead of dental insurance ($140/YEAR for the whole family)
Total: $640/month TOTAL, with better access and lower out-of-pocket costs than my old $1,175/month insurance plan.
I’ve been eating at the world’s most expensive, mediocre restaurant for years and suddenly discovered I could get better food for half the price just by walking down the street.
Taking The Leap
If you’re thinking about exploring alternatives, here’s what worked for me:
First, figure out what you spent on healthcare last year. Pull your bank statements, credit card bills, whatever. How much went to premiums? How much do you actually care? This is your baseline.
Second, look at a few different healthcare-sharing communities. Some are religious, others are secular. Some have more restrictions; others are more flexible. Please read the fine print on what they do and don’t share.
Third, see if there’s a Direct Primary Care doctor near you. Having a doctor who knows you and isn’t rushing to see 40 patients daily is game-changing.
Fourth, talk to people using these alternatives—not the companies themselves but actual members. Ask them about their experience, especially with submitting bills and getting reimbursed.
Finally, consider your comfort level with managing your own healthcare. Some people love control and transparency, while others get anxious about it. Be honest with yourself.
The Bottom Line
Nobody from the insurance industry wants you to know that you have options. Good ones.
Traditional health insurance isn’t the only way to protect your family’s health and finances. For many of us, it’s not even the best way.
I remember the feeling when I finally made the switch – like I’d been carrying a heavy backpack for years and suddenly took it off. The relief wasn’t just financial (though saving $7,600 yearly is pretty sweet). It was about feeling like I’d escaped a system designed to profit from my fear and confusion.
